Shippers mandated to use cleaner fuels off the California coastline

New lifesaving fuel regulation to clean up ship pollution

HOT OFF THE PRESS
The California Air Resources Board (ARB) has approved a new regulation to reduce harmful pollution caused by massive oceangoing vessels, including container ships, cruise ships and oil tankers that call on California's ports and transport products up and down our coastline.

THE REGULATION
The new regulation requires ship operators to use cleaner marine distillate fuels in both the main and auxiliary engines, as well as auxiliary boilers, on oceangoing vessels operating within 24 nautical miles of the California coastline. The cleaner fuels contain lower sulfur content and will reduce the emissions of sulfur oxides and particulate matter into the air.

GLOBAL SHIPPING AND YOUR HEALTH
Californians have been paying the cost of cheap shipping with their health!

• Ten Californians die every day due to air pollution from ports and freight transportation. The new rules are expected to save 3,600 lives in the next 6 years.
• For every dollar spent on cleaner ship fuels, the public will save $20 in health costs.
  

THE COALITION FOR CLEAN AIR: FINDING LOCAL SOLUTIONS TO GLOBAL ISSUES
For years, the Coalition for Clean Air (CCA) has worked to address the tar-like sludge used to propel cargo ships. This dirtiest of diesel fuels produces staggering amounts of air pollution that is linked to serious health hazards, such as asthma, cancer and even premature death.

Today's regulation is on track with California's progressive leadership role in the environmental community. Just as California led the way in eliminating lead from gasoline, so too is California leading the way in reducing sulfur from ship fuels.

THE PATH TO VICTORY
California is proving that the use of cleaner fuels in ships is a viable and affordable solution to today's pollution crisis. The cost incurred by shippers to comply with this regulation represents less than one percent of the total costs of a typical trans-Pacific voyage. Maersk, one of the world's largest shipping companies, has voluntarily used cleaner fuels for their ships' California visits since 2006.

A clean fuels regulation covering only auxiliary engines was enforced throughout 2007-mostly without incident-until industry litigation threw out the rule in court. Today's action has been crafted to address the legal complaints and further expand the use of cleaner fuels, benefiting communities near our ports and all along the coastline.